Background: Umbilical cord care remains a serious health concern in the rural part of Ghana. The study sought to examine the knowledge and practices concerning umbilical cord care among first-time mothers residing in the Northern regions of Ghana.
Methods: Institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed using quantitative research approach. The study was conducted among primiparous mothers of neonates seeking postnatal services in rural Ghana. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the data. Frequency, percentages, and bar charts were used to present the data. A chi-square test was carried out to examine the association between demographic variables and knowledge of umbilical cord care.
Results: Most primiparous mothers displayed a commendable level of knowledge regarding cord care, with 95% exhibiting familiarity with essential practices. Notably, 30.7% acknowledged using hot water with salt or holy water from a pastor/mallam for cleansing their baby's umbilical cord/stump, while 39.4% disagreed with this practice. Statistical Analysis (ꭕ2(12.56), p-value
Key words: Knowledge, Practice, Umbilical cord, Primiparous, Post-Natal, Northern Ghana.
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